Anthony Marrone is the owner of The Marrone Law Firm on East Washington Street in downtown Syracuse.

By Anthony Marrone | Special to Syracuse.com

As a fellow downtown Syracuse business owner, I read Joseph Todisco’s commentary in support of maintaining the current Interstate 81 viaduct with some dismay (“Maintaining I-81 is the true investment in downtown Syracuse’s future,” Jan. 9, 2019). His support for maintaining the status quo, which all studies have shown would actually result in taking more land and existing buildings than to create the community grid, is devoid of any facts or verifiable claims and relies on the same old logic that created this blunder in the first place.

I support the community grid because it is the best option for encouraging inclusive growth that will connect or surging downtown to Syracuse University, the hospitals and the currently bifurcated sections of the city. In short, it is the only way to create the “One Syracuse” that this community has needed for so long.

Additionally, it belies reason that a downtown business owner would support expanding the viaduct when the New York State Department of Transportation studies have shown that will be the most expensive option (by at least $400 million) and the most disruptive to current traffic patterns (destroying 24 buildings as opposed to five for the grid).

My employees come from all over Central New York to our downtown office. There’s no evidence that commutes are going to be extended by any measurable amount of time. In fact, the community grid will provide more options to circumnavigate traffic by accessing alternate routes for purposes of ingress and egress.

The writer erroneously claims that “[w]ith near unanimity, the Central New York state legislative delegation is on the record supporting continued high-speed access through the city and the region …” Legislators were nearly unanimous in asking the state to study the tunnel option, not choose it. The most vocal supporter of maintaining the viaduct, former state Sen. John DeFrancisco, is now retired. Newly elected state Sen. Rachel May and State Assembly Member Al Stirpe are on the record supporting the community grid. For good measure, Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh is also on board as supporting the community grid. The reason for this is simple: The community grid option could allow land to be developed and generate $48 million a year in city and county property taxes, creating more than 30,000 jobs from construction and 11,000 jobs to staff the new buildings and businesses.

It is important that we not allow this generational opportunity to pass by relying on old logic and making the wrong decision to maintain the status quo. Anyone who is concerned with the economic success of our region cannot deny the fact that the community grid will do more to create the “One Syracuse” we desperately need, a region no longer divided by an elevated arterial, where our people innovate, our community celebrates its diversity, and where we maximize our opportunity for the economic advancement of everyone. For these reasons, this downtown business owner wholeheartedly supports the community grid.